by Anthony Gimino on Jan 12, 2013, under Arizona football, Arizona football recruiting

Cameron Denson is rated the state’s top junior by 247Sports. Photo by Andy Morales, TucsonCitizen.com

Arizona Wildcats coach Rich Rodriguez started his 2014 recruiting class with a flourish Saturday, getting a commitment from Salpointe Catholic receiver Cameron Denson, one of the top juniors in the state.

“He’s 100 percent sure. This is a very solid commitment. This is great for the home town. Rich has that recruiting class up and going.”

Denson had a slew of Pac-12 scholarship offers, as well as ones from Notre Dame and Oklahoma. The major recruiting services rate him four out of five stars in early rankings of the 2014 class.

Denson (6-1, 175) is an exceptional athlete, pressed into duty at quarterback for Salpointe at times last season. He ended up running for 1,026 yards and 18 touchdowns, catching 37 passes for 585 yards and two scores.

He projects as a receiver in college, although his cornerback skills are also elite. In fact, 247Sports rates Denson as the sixth-best junior cornerback in the nation, as well as the top 2014 recruit in the state. Scout.com picks Denson as the 51st-best prospect in the nation.

The Republic picked Denson to its All-Arizona team in 2011 before making first-team Division II honors as a junior.

It’s always important for a school to sign as many local products as possible, and three of the Wildcats’ best players this season came from Tucson-area high schools: consensus All-American running back Ka’Deem Carey, Pac-12 honorable mention linebacker Jake Fischer and Pac-12 honorable mention defensive back Jared Tevis.

Rodriguez to use this early commitment from such a highly-rated recruit to build enthusiasm for the rest of the class, which will take shape during the spring and summer.

Arizona’s 2013 class is nearly full, with probably just a few transactions coming before Signing Day on Feb. 6.